So far, my Nissan Leaf, 2014 vintage, is still well supported at the local dealership in Topsham, Maine. They've done a door handle replacement, and replaced the old resistive heater. Also, wheel alignment correction, including shims for a rear wheel. Honestly, though, not much has gone wrong in the last 5 years of ownership. I would consider paying for a battery replacement if the need arises in the next 3 years. Since most of our driving is local, with very little highway time, the old, red leaf just keeps on humming.
Hi Nikki and all the crew. I have a 10 year old Holden Volt which I have owned for 5 years. I bought a GM compatible OBD2 scan tool off ebay for $170.00 AU and it has allowed me to diagnose and reset the odd once or twice yearly fault code that pops up. Luckily I have never had one that requires an ecu reflash. Holden have been shut down in Australia by GM, but if I have to I can get some parts locally, or if I have to from the U.S. but there is only one Volt technician in South Australia. Lucky I'm a computer nerd. The volt still has the same 65-70km electric range as when I bought it, and no major faults at 160,000 km. Having said that I do worry about something going seriously wrong with it at this stage of it's life cycle. However, it has convinced me of the viability of going fully electric and I am awaiting the arrival of my 2024 Polestar 2 single motor long range. I charge my car off my solar and powerwall 2, for free and I will keep my Volt for my daily around town driving, and use the polestar2 for my frequent out of town longer drives. Long time viewer of the channel, keep up the good work Folks. Cheers.
I loved my Ford Focus Electric. But since 2020, the high voltage battery has been on a forever back-order. That's important because early examples often had an internal coolant leak in the upper pack that would brick the car. It is repairable, but I've yet to find a shop that will actually open up the HV battery and fix the broken line. The Focus could have been a good car for this list because the rest of it has massive support given it's similarity to the ICE version. Earlier on, Ford even made extra effort to take care of FFE owners because we gave them great data for developing the Mach E. But once the Mustang came out, support evaporated. When it went back on sale post recall, I traded in the Focus and picked up a Chevrolet Bolt EUV. I've been thoroughly enjoying it.
My Soul 2015 EV+ (that I purchased in 2021) is getting a new traction battery as a result of the most recent recall. I'm stoked! Keep it up Nikki! And say "Hello" to all at the channel!
Good to see this talked about, it was a factor in buying a new Leaf a couple of years ago and why I've recommended them to others - full diagnostic info is just a cheap OBD dongle and a phone app away, the platform is old but very well understood and the independent EV mechanics will have seen more Leafs than just about anything. If a module in the battery pack were to go bad, the pack can be removed, opened, (easily obtained) module replaced and all put back in a few hours. Charging connectors aside, it should be a viable car for decades.
One of the biggest worries that has slowed EV sales is that EVs have minimal (cheap) third party support, especially cars that are out of warranty. Very timely video. Perhaps you can address another after-sales concern in a future video. How insurance companies are writing off EVs after a minor accident because they are so expensive to repair. Which EVs have the worst reputation for expensive repairs and which have the best reputation?
A brief story. So I was scrolling around online browsing local small dealers in my area. Some of which had used Model 3’s. So I researched further. One such place was offering a 3 years extended warranty on a 2018 Model 3, with 80K miles on it. Their extended warranty was $4500. And it includes “free oil changes for life”, “free emergency towing with up to 5 gallons of gas”, and “extra full coverage on all engine parts”. I found this funny and sad, so I thought you’d all enjoy it. Thank you for all you do. Keep up the great work
My first EV , a 2015 Smart Fortwo EV , I gave to my Son after buying a used Tesla 85D. My son left it out in the heat while at Uni , which killed the HV Battery.. Now , Mercedes says it needs a new battery for the StewPid price of $13,000CND .. Even the Mercedes shop manager , who formerly work at Nissan, said "if it was a leaf it could be repaired " .. When I bought it new it was that or Tesla. The only two BEVs with battery management. The mandatory Mercedes service changed the BMS to the point where it would quickly drain the batteries ( just sitting there) and ended up killing the battery it was in charge of protecting!
You bring up a great point on getting parts. Here in Canada the manufacture is required to have parts available for at least 10 years. I have an old 18 year old car and have never had a issue with parts (an evil 2005 Golf TDI - it now only gets about 5.2l (was 4.7)/100km at 480K km on the Odometer). With the expected life capability of an EV (assuming it doesn't turn into a pile of rust like my '85 carbureted Prelude with a 580K km that rusted to the point the uni-body welds started to fail but still drove like stink) this 10 year parts availability guarantee is a bit of a joke. Having to replace a whole assembly is one of the great consumer rip-offs. Tesla is good at doing that I heard because those that work on your cars are technicians not mechanics. I have know a few brilliant mechanics that have saved me a fortune (they are all retired or more sadly dead). I have a friend with a used Leaf and he loves it. How about On-Line courses?
This is exactly why I bought a new Nissan Leaf in 2022, despite knowing that chademo was going away, and that the car would be end-of-life'd in the next few years. The fact that it had been around for over a decade meant that it was well supported and was far more likely to be reliable.
It was EoL in 2022 now it’s being continued for a while longer until it’s replacement is debuted in 2026. Given a year for retooling the last Leaf could be made in late 2024. With no updates since the ZE1 in 2018
David Tracy at The Autopian bought the cheapest i3 in the country and got a free battery replacement due to California warranty law, but that law only applies to PHEVs not full EVs so if his didn't have the range extender he'd have been screwed. He also bought a cheap used Leaf that won't make it from Universal City to Santa Monica and back on a charge so I'm looking forward to seeing articles there about the aftermarket support.
Using an OBD reader we found a used 2017 BMW i3 REX with less than 100 hours of REX run-time on it, $11,000 after $4,000 tax credit, and 69,000 miles. Already put around 7,000 miles on it and it has been amazing! The forums have helped us add upgrades like CarPlay and Sport Mode. Time will tell, but the mid/large-size battery have more modern chemistries (2017 and newer models) So far it has been a reliable car and it's even capable of 500+ road trips! @@transportevolved
I struggled with finding a dealer in Virginia to fix a simple issue with the radio head unit in my 2015 VW e-Golf despite buying the car CPO from a VW dealer in VA, I ended up driving it out of state to a dealer who would even touch the car. Servicing my Kona EV with Hyundai dealers has been much easier and even major parts have arrived quickly (I needed a new motor due to a tapping sound on regen), I think the Ioniq 5 and 6 rollout pushed a lot of their dealers to offer service for EVs. I’d feel pretty confident in long term service for the Kona, Niro, and OG Ioniq because of how many parts are similar between all three of them.
Good to know. I've had comparable experiences with VW & Hyndai dealerships with ICE vehicles. I guess somethings depend more on the company than on EV/ICE.
I recall seeing a video a year or so ago that compared EV driver experience to ICE driver experience, where the vehicles had a similar age/mileage & how many years the model had been available. Apparently the Leaf & Bolt had pretty similar driver experiences to established, slightly older ICE models, while newer models had similar driver experiences to ICE drivers on brand-new models. (I don't recall how Tesla faired.) There's always a lot of bugs in the first year or two any model of vehicle is made, EV or ICE.
Those buying a used EV have generally the same problem as new car buyers 4 years ago. There really is only one honestly good choice. The bolt and leaf might do okay, but at least in the US these are not good choices due to either slow charging or batteries that die young, and the state of the CCS1 charge network, which will likely not be fixed because everyone is switching to NACS. I picked up a used 2018 model 3 a couple months ago for $30k. It came with a 1 year bumper to bumper warranty and what is left over from the original powertrain warranty. Based on my other model 3 I don’t really expect a lot of trouble with it. It’s been great!
😊 I'm looking forward to the day of second-hand electric cars. I have no problem with them but then I built an electric car and I know that they are technically more simple. however, I do agree there is some areas of concern to do a software and some of the final electronics which could be a bit rubbish😊
When I bought my Bolt in early 2018 there weren't a lot of Bolt's sold yet, though it's worth noting that the Bolt was the #1 selling EV in California for 2017 (thanks to a slow start making Model 3s). But now there have been enough sold that I feel confident I'll be able to keep mine on the road for a long time. One factor that I think hinders 3rd party repair for Tesla's (which should be a huge market considering how many have sold) is that Tesla can, and has. blocked Supercharger access for cars that have had 3rd party repairs, especially those that have been repaired after an accident and carry a salvage title. A Tesla without Supercharger access is almost entirely locked out of DCFC (barring the EVgo sites with Tesla connectors speaking ChAdEmO) at leas until the non-Tesla charging providers start deploying Tesla (NAC"S") connectors..
One of the biggest concerns I'd have with buying a used EV is really similar to my concerns about buying a used car in general. You don't know how well the car has been treated. In the case of a used ICEV I'd worry that maintenance will have been neglected or that the car has been abused by things like hard driving on a cold engine, excessive idling, or driving over speed bumps at speed. In the case of an EV I'd be concerned about how the battery has been taken care of. Has it spend a large part of it's life sitting at 100% SoC? Has it been regularly subject to high temperatures? Also keep in mind that just because a car has an active cooling system for the battery doesn't mean the car will always use that system when it should. In the case of my Bolt I've recorded my battery get as hot as 37C (~99F) on very hot days without the car doing anything to try to cool it down.
From an Australian point of view, after sales service and skilful technicians are key when looking at used anything. Ford Stellantis Holden Toyota and others have been fined many many millions for anti consumer behaviour related to models that were current. I can’t speak highly of Nissan or Honda in Australia as their sales volumes generally have crashed so the dealers might only see one or two models for regular service. The issues with Nissan dealers servicing or repairing any Leaf is well documented. Hyundai and Kia have also been handed massive fines
So the early used EV market will have some hurdles and challeges. Batteries, battery management, fast charging, adaptor(s) for charging, specialty parts, dealer support, 3 rd party support are some things to consider. I can see donor cars as spare parts. Repair work will potentially be costly or delayed based on parts availability. Scavenging for parts, buying wrecks or abandoned vehicles for spares, developing specialty tools or skills will create spinoff opportunities or businesses.
When shopping in Aldi today, someone made a comment about how electric cars are no good because you have to pay someone £1,000 to get rid of the battery. I was absolutely astonded at this level of misunderstanding. She also didn't understand the key differences between the commercial electric van her husband drove for work and that of a car. She thought that you couldn't road trip in them and that using the heater essentially made EV's useless because the heaters are range sucking vampires. She was equally astounded to learn just how wrong she was, especially when I pointed out the madness of her assertion of having to pay someone £1,000 to to take away a perfectly good EV battery pack worth £10,000 - £20,000 & that you simply don't get rid of them like you would a disposable battery from household electronics; she kept on frowning, repeatedly asking, "well what do you do with them, how do you get rid of them?" And on and on it went with repetition of a whole load of old bunkum her equally ill-informed husband had been feeding her.
I saved up for the last 3 years and have enough cash to get a used EV. I don't actually need one, because I live in a city that I can cover with my ebike and escooter easily, but I *want* one! Mainly to be able to go further in more comfort, and road trip across Europe back to the UK from Hungary. I don't have off street parking unfortunately. Was considering a Tesla Model 3, but am struggling with the growing stigma associated with them now :-( So, am considering an ex fleet Corsa E which has reasonable range and features for about €20k from a dealer with warranty, and it looks reasonable, but still quite a lump of cash to dispose of. On the other hand, I could just hang on and keep saving and work my nuts off hoping that I can have some time to be able to drive again. Hungary has no incentives for EVs apparently which is quite a disappointment but not unexpected.
I watched a documentary about the first Tesla car, which is that 2 seater roadster. All the owners were saying that there was no support from Tesla, and some of the owners had actually gone into business making some aftermarket body panels and whatever else they could make aftermarket. If anyone wants to buy any Tesla model, they should look at how Tesla supports those first cars, because Tesla doesn't and if Tesla was to do that with it's current lines of models then don't be surprised.
Rick from the declining oil Capitol of the world and rising renewables Capitol of the world here. Nikki, thanks for covering this because the auto manufacturers are building larger, more bells and whistles and more expensive EVs and it’s really p!$$!ng me off.
How good a choice is a US market smart ED? I have a teeny tiny potential parking spot, so I'm thinking about downsizing from my CR-Z so I can cancel my paid parking permit.
*wow!* - This is a very... very careful subject. The Smart Fortwo ED (at least, the earlier ones) had a bug where you could actually brick the entire car's traction battery pack if you didn't use it for extended periods of time and let the battery pack drain down. We'd recommend that you only consider this if you have access to regular, predictable charging (and intend to use it regularly, too) - Nikki.
The issues of initial cost, financing cost, maintenance and repair cost, parts and service availability, and fuel/energy cost are a given with car ownership. Which is why some players are committed to the robo-taxi concept. If and when autonomy is perfected, it could result in an explosion of affordable car service for people who don't particularly enjoy driving and want to avoid the costs of car ownership.
@@transportevolved That pretty much defines American capitalism as a whole. Car companies have simply written off the working poor. There has always been an underserved underclass in America deemed not worthy of a decent life.
That does not mean we should support the meme lord techno king determined to make it worse for those people. The only way it gets better is with right to repair, increased parts availability, and removing barriers to independent repair.
@@transportevolved The advent of robo-taxis won't outlaw private car ownership. It will simply be another option. Right-to-repair, increased parts availability, and the removal of barriers to independent repair are all good things. But capitalism will propel the profit potential of robo-taxis, whether we like it or not. I'll still be driving my 1992 Geo Prizm, because that's what I can afford.
@@transportevolved The meme lord techno king is a fascist narcissist king baby, but on the other hand, TE would not exist if his company hadn't forced all other carmakers to start making EVs. Before 2009, there WAS no EV industry. So, there's that.🙂
Recent data indicates that 50% of americans can't afford to pay more than $400/month or about $25k. Based on the current car prices less than 13% of car buyers can actually buy a new mid level ev
Most ppl don’t buy new cars. Over time EVs will filter down. Also new model 3s start at 38,990 -> 28,490 after tax credit and model y starts at 43,990 -> 32,890 after tax credit. Those are pretty good values at those prices, then factor in gas savings, safety, longevity, lower maintenance and now these used car buyers may be able to afford new
75% of car sales are used cars. Most of my cars have been used when I bought them including my first two EV’s. I bought both after someone else leased them from new. There is now a tax credit for used EV’s that are under $25k when some eventually get there
@michaelsmithers4900 notice what I said about the $400 monthly that's 25k which puts all Teslas out of reach unless you are willing to buy a Tesla with a salvage title and can work on it yourself to repair whatever caused it to get that salvage title then pay Tesla's fee to register the car back on the system.
In my experience the Mitsubishi i-Miev's simplicity and cheap parts make it by far the cheapest car to run. DIY skills are of course needed unless you know somebody who can help you.
History lesson...Renault stopped selling cars in America in the early 90s, when they were competing with the growing superior Japanese brands that had taken so much marketshare from US brands. They haven't been back since. They are letting Nissan compete here.
I do not want a used EV. Nobody should want a used EV. All it takes is one nicked coolant line, one chip in the battery frame, one tiny little crack in the casing, and the car becomes worthless--and dangerous. Nuh uh, no way, not around my kid.
Why would you make an ad hominem attack instead of addressing my response to your content? That was very rude. Used cars are notorious for having invisible issues that you don't learn about until months after the sale. With an EV, thise risks are greater due to battery fires and leaking materials. Fact. Unless tou are going to take that sucker to a dealer and pay to have em do a full safety check, then the risk is always there.
Plus, parts just age out on cars. Faster in used vehicles because the wear and tear is already built in. Fact. Plus, you really don't know how the person drove it. If it was someone who continually drove hard miles, adding extra wese to moving parts in a shorter time, or if the vehilce was driven in an area that has poor road conditions and nasty weather that also may have weakened the vehicle--just not visibly.
@@linusa2996a Corolla hybrid is cheaper than most ice, and it's amazing efficiency and very low maintenance cost more than make up for the small additional cost for the hybrid MSRP 24,000
@@transportevolved Toyotas are extremely reliable, unlike most EV manufacturers which have a below average quilty level. Its one of those hidden EV cost along with a massively higher insurance bill.
![Megan Thee Stallion - Neva Play (feat. RM) [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/TpYTyAaTRts/mqdefault.jpg)
So far, my Nissan Leaf, 2014 vintage, is still well supported at the local dealership in Topsham, Maine. They've done a door handle replacement, and replaced the old resistive heater. Also, wheel alignment correction, including shims for a rear wheel. Honestly, though, not much has gone wrong in the last 5 years of ownership. I would consider paying for a battery replacement if the need arises in the next 3 years. Since most of our driving is local, with very little highway time, the old, red leaf just keeps on humming.
Hi Nikki and all the crew. I have a 10 year old Holden Volt which I have owned for 5 years. I bought a GM compatible OBD2 scan tool off ebay for $170.00 AU and it has allowed me to diagnose and reset the odd once or twice yearly fault code that pops up. Luckily I have never had one that requires an ecu reflash. Holden have been shut down in Australia by GM, but if I have to I can get some parts locally, or if I have to from the U.S. but there is only one Volt technician in South Australia. Lucky I'm a computer nerd.
The volt still has the same 65-70km electric range as when I bought it, and no major faults at 160,000 km. Having said that I do worry about something going seriously wrong with it at this stage of it's life cycle.
However, it has convinced me of the viability of going fully electric and I am awaiting the arrival of my 2024 Polestar 2 single motor long range. I charge my car off my solar and powerwall 2, for free and I will keep my Volt for my daily around town driving, and use the polestar2 for my frequent out of town longer drives.
Long time viewer of the channel, keep up the good work Folks. Cheers.
I loved my Ford Focus Electric. But since 2020, the high voltage battery has been on a forever back-order. That's important because early examples often had an internal coolant leak in the upper pack that would brick the car. It is repairable, but I've yet to find a shop that will actually open up the HV battery and fix the broken line.
The Focus could have been a good car for this list because the rest of it has massive support given it's similarity to the ICE version. Earlier on, Ford even made extra effort to take care of FFE owners because we gave them great data for developing the Mach E. But once the Mustang came out, support evaporated.
When it went back on sale post recall, I traded in the Focus and picked up a Chevrolet Bolt EUV. I've been thoroughly enjoying it.
I got one for my wife a few years ago. Were thinking about a Bolt as it's replacement once it dies.
My Soul 2015 EV+ (that I purchased in 2021) is getting a new traction battery as a result of the most recent recall. I'm stoked! Keep it up Nikki! And say "Hello" to all at the channel!
Good to see this talked about, it was a factor in buying a new Leaf a couple of years ago and why I've recommended them to others - full diagnostic info is just a cheap OBD dongle and a phone app away, the platform is old but very well understood and the independent EV mechanics will have seen more Leafs than just about anything. If a module in the battery pack were to go bad, the pack can be removed, opened, (easily obtained) module replaced and all put back in a few hours. Charging connectors aside, it should be a viable car for decades.
One of the biggest worries that has slowed EV sales is that EVs have minimal (cheap) third party support, especially cars that are out of warranty. Very timely video. Perhaps you can address another after-sales concern in a future video. How insurance companies are writing off EVs after a minor accident because they are so expensive to repair. Which EVs have the worst reputation for expensive repairs and which have the best reputation?
A brief story. So I was scrolling around online browsing local small dealers in my area. Some of which had used Model 3’s. So I researched further. One such place was offering a 3 years extended warranty on a 2018 Model 3, with 80K miles on it. Their extended warranty was $4500. And it includes “free oil changes for life”, “free emergency towing with up to 5 gallons of gas”, and “extra full coverage on all engine parts”.
I found this funny and sad, so I thought you’d all enjoy it. Thank you for all you do. Keep up the great work
You all are covering the elephant in the room topics that people don't want to talk about. I really appreciate you all. Thank you again.
My first EV , a 2015 Smart Fortwo EV , I gave to my Son after buying a used Tesla 85D. My son left it out in the heat while at Uni , which killed the HV Battery.. Now , Mercedes says it needs a new battery for the StewPid price of $13,000CND .. Even the Mercedes shop manager , who formerly work at Nissan, said "if it was a leaf it could be repaired " .. When I bought it new it was that or Tesla. The only two BEVs with battery management. The mandatory Mercedes service changed the BMS to the point where it would quickly drain the batteries ( just sitting there) and ended up killing the battery it was in charge of protecting!
Brilliant and very important considerations for anyone thinking about a used EV or any vehicle.
Really helpful. I've had a lower volume car in the past and yep, certainly experience limited parts issues.
You bring up a great point on getting parts. Here in Canada the manufacture is required to have parts available for at least 10 years. I have an old 18 year old car and have never had a issue with parts (an evil 2005 Golf TDI - it now only gets about 5.2l (was 4.7)/100km at 480K km on the Odometer). With the expected life capability of an EV (assuming it doesn't turn into a pile of rust like my '85 carbureted Prelude with a 580K km that rusted to the point the uni-body welds started to fail but still drove like stink) this 10 year parts availability guarantee is a bit of a joke.
Having to replace a whole assembly is one of the great consumer rip-offs. Tesla is good at doing that I heard because those that work on your cars are technicians not mechanics. I have know a few brilliant mechanics that have saved me a fortune (they are all retired or more sadly dead).
I have a friend with a used Leaf and he loves it.
How about On-Line courses?
I've been delighted with my 2018 Nissan LEAF (Comma 3 added). I'm hoping that my wife's 'new to us' 2021 Kona Electric Ultimate does as well.
This is exactly why I bought a new Nissan Leaf in 2022, despite knowing that chademo was going away, and that the car would be end-of-life'd in the next few years. The fact that it had been around for over a decade meant that it was well supported and was far more likely to be reliable.
It was EoL in 2022 now it’s being continued for a while longer until it’s replacement is debuted in 2026. Given a year for retooling the last Leaf could be made in late 2024. With no updates since the ZE1 in 2018
my bmw i3 has been a very reliable used buy, at 9 years old all i have realy had to do is service it over the last 3 years of driving!
The BEV ones tend to be very reliable. The REX? Not so much (unless yours is a REX, we've not heard of a trouble-free REX to date).
David Tracy at The Autopian bought the cheapest i3 in the country and got a free battery replacement due to California warranty law, but that law only applies to PHEVs not full EVs so if his didn't have the range extender he'd have been screwed. He also bought a cheap used Leaf that won't make it from Universal City to Santa Monica and back on a charge so I'm looking forward to seeing articles there about the aftermarket support.
@@transportevolved mine is a rex never had an issue, it's a 14 plate, nothing alarming in the service history from before I bought him either!
Using an OBD reader we found a used 2017 BMW i3 REX with less than 100 hours of REX run-time on it, $11,000 after $4,000 tax credit, and 69,000 miles. Already put around 7,000 miles on it and it has been amazing! The forums have helped us add upgrades like CarPlay and Sport Mode. Time will tell, but the mid/large-size battery have more modern chemistries (2017 and newer models) So far it has been a reliable car and it's even capable of 500+ road trips! @@transportevolved
Well done video on an important topic.
I struggled with finding a dealer in Virginia to fix a simple issue with the radio head unit in my 2015 VW e-Golf despite buying the car CPO from a VW dealer in VA, I ended up driving it out of state to a dealer who would even touch the car. Servicing my Kona EV with Hyundai dealers has been much easier and even major parts have arrived quickly (I needed a new motor due to a tapping sound on regen), I think the Ioniq 5 and 6 rollout pushed a lot of their dealers to offer service for EVs. I’d feel pretty confident in long term service for the Kona, Niro, and OG Ioniq because of how many parts are similar between all three of them.
Good to know. I've had comparable experiences with VW & Hyndai dealerships with ICE vehicles. I guess somethings depend more on the company than on EV/ICE.
The only problem I have ever had from my Leaf is finding a Chatdemo when I need it lol Can't wait till the day when chargers are everywhere
I recall seeing a video a year or so ago that compared EV driver experience to ICE driver experience, where the vehicles had a similar age/mileage & how many years the model had been available. Apparently the Leaf & Bolt had pretty similar driver experiences to established, slightly older ICE models, while newer models had similar driver experiences to ICE drivers on brand-new models. (I don't recall how Tesla faired.) There's always a lot of bugs in the first year or two any model of vehicle is made, EV or ICE.
Those buying a used EV have generally the same problem as new car buyers 4 years ago. There really is only one honestly good choice. The bolt and leaf might do okay, but at least in the US these are not good choices due to either slow charging or batteries that die young, and the state of the CCS1 charge network, which will likely not be fixed because everyone is switching to NACS. I picked up a used 2018 model 3 a couple months ago for $30k. It came with a 1 year bumper to bumper warranty and what is left over from the original powertrain warranty. Based on my other model 3 I don’t really expect a lot of trouble with it. It’s been great!
When will the new Ultium-based Bolt be on sale? I am waiting for it.
Likely a few years, we're guessing - Nikki.
😊 I'm looking forward to the day of second-hand electric cars. I have no problem with them but then I built an electric car and I know that they are technically more simple. however, I do agree there is some areas of concern to do a software and some of the final electronics which could be a bit rubbish😊
Ordered my NEVERMORE yesterday! I love your merch.
This was very helpful.
It is something you should should should revisit every six months or so
When I bought my Bolt in early 2018 there weren't a lot of Bolt's sold yet, though it's worth noting that the Bolt was the #1 selling EV in California for 2017 (thanks to a slow start making Model 3s). But now there have been enough sold that I feel confident I'll be able to keep mine on the road for a long time.
One factor that I think hinders 3rd party repair for Tesla's (which should be a huge market considering how many have sold) is that Tesla can, and has. blocked Supercharger access for cars that have had 3rd party repairs, especially those that have been repaired after an accident and carry a salvage title. A Tesla without Supercharger access is almost entirely locked out of DCFC (barring the EVgo sites with Tesla connectors speaking ChAdEmO) at leas until the non-Tesla charging providers start deploying Tesla (NAC"S") connectors..
One of the biggest concerns I'd have with buying a used EV is really similar to my concerns about buying a used car in general. You don't know how well the car has been treated.
In the case of a used ICEV I'd worry that maintenance will have been neglected or that the car has been abused by things like hard driving on a cold engine, excessive idling, or driving over speed bumps at speed.
In the case of an EV I'd be concerned about how the battery has been taken care of. Has it spend a large part of it's life sitting at 100% SoC? Has it been regularly subject to high temperatures? Also keep in mind that just because a car has an active cooling system for the battery doesn't mean the car will always use that system when it should. In the case of my Bolt I've recorded my battery get as hot as 37C (~99F) on very hot days without the car doing anything to try to cool it down.
It’s 37C a problem? That seems pretty cold to me. I read that below 140 F is ok
From an Australian point of view, after sales service and skilful technicians are key when looking at used anything. Ford Stellantis Holden Toyota and others have been fined many many millions for anti consumer behaviour related to models that were current. I can’t speak highly of Nissan or Honda in Australia as their sales volumes generally have crashed so the dealers might only see one or two models for regular service. The issues with Nissan dealers servicing or repairing any Leaf is well documented. Hyundai and Kia have also been handed massive fines
So the early used EV market will have some hurdles and challeges. Batteries, battery management, fast charging, adaptor(s) for charging, specialty parts, dealer support, 3 rd party support are some things to consider. I can see donor cars as spare parts. Repair work will potentially be costly or delayed based on parts availability.
Scavenging for parts, buying wrecks or abandoned vehicles for spares, developing specialty tools or skills will create spinoff opportunities or businesses.
When shopping in Aldi today, someone made a comment about how electric cars are no good because you have to pay someone £1,000 to get rid of the battery. I was absolutely astonded at this level of misunderstanding. She also didn't understand the key differences between the commercial electric van her husband drove for work and that of a car. She thought that you couldn't road trip in them and that using the heater essentially made EV's useless because the heaters are range sucking vampires.
She was equally astounded to learn just how wrong she was, especially when I pointed out the madness of her assertion of having to pay someone £1,000 to to take away a perfectly good EV battery pack worth £10,000 - £20,000 & that you simply don't get rid of them like you would a disposable battery from household electronics; she kept on frowning, repeatedly asking, "well what do you do with them, how do you get rid of them?" And on and on it went with repetition of a whole load of old bunkum her equally ill-informed husband had been feeding her.
LOL, the shipping cost for the Tshirt from your store is cheaper than shipping for my local grocery delivery :)
Nice design, can't wait to get it!
E versions like fiat. Focus. Spark. Have body n interior parts aplenty.
5 yr on used ^15 fiat & bmw i3, alignment n tires for fiat, more for i3.
I saved up for the last 3 years and have enough cash to get a used EV. I don't actually need one, because I live in a city that I can cover with my ebike and escooter easily, but I *want* one!
Mainly to be able to go further in more comfort, and road trip across Europe back to the UK from Hungary. I don't have off street parking unfortunately.
Was considering a Tesla Model 3, but am struggling with the growing stigma associated with them now :-(
So, am considering an ex fleet Corsa E which has reasonable range and features for about €20k from a dealer with warranty, and it looks reasonable, but still quite a lump of cash to dispose of.
On the other hand, I could just hang on and keep saving and work my nuts off hoping that I can have some time to be able to drive again.
Hungary has no incentives for EVs apparently which is quite a disappointment but not unexpected.
Great video! This is really needed content!
Thank you
I watched a documentary about the first Tesla car, which is that 2 seater roadster. All the owners were saying that there was no support from Tesla, and some of the owners had actually gone into business making some aftermarket body panels and whatever else they could make aftermarket.
If anyone wants to buy any Tesla model, they should look at how Tesla supports those first cars, because Tesla doesn't and if Tesla was to do that with it's current lines of models then don't be surprised.
Rick from the declining oil Capitol of the world and rising renewables Capitol of the world here. Nikki, thanks for covering this because the auto manufacturers are building larger, more bells and whistles and more expensive EVs and it’s really p!$$!ng me off.
How good a choice is a US market smart ED? I have a teeny tiny potential parking spot, so I'm thinking about downsizing from my CR-Z so I can cancel my paid parking permit.
*wow!* - This is a very... very careful subject.
The Smart Fortwo ED (at least, the earlier ones) had a bug where you could actually brick the entire car's traction battery pack if you didn't use it for extended periods of time and let the battery pack drain down. We'd recommend that you only consider this if you have access to regular, predictable charging (and intend to use it regularly, too) - Nikki.
I enjoyed this informative video, but was disappointed in the unexpected breaks in the audio...
Can you point to where? There shouldn't be any issues with the audio.
The issues of initial cost, financing cost, maintenance and repair cost, parts and service availability, and fuel/energy cost are a given with car ownership. Which is why some players are committed to the robo-taxi concept. If and when autonomy is perfected, it could result in an explosion of affordable car service for people who don't particularly enjoy driving and want to avoid the costs of car ownership.
Except it won’t. You know it will become another way of sticking it to people who can’t afford rush pricing or demand charges… -Nikki
@@transportevolved That pretty much defines American capitalism as a whole. Car companies have simply written off the working poor. There has always been an underserved underclass in America deemed not worthy of a decent life.
That does not mean we should support the meme lord techno king determined to make it worse for those people.
The only way it gets better is with right to repair, increased parts availability, and removing barriers to independent repair.
@@transportevolved The advent of robo-taxis won't outlaw private car ownership. It will simply be another option. Right-to-repair, increased parts availability, and the removal of barriers to independent repair are all good things. But capitalism will propel the profit potential of robo-taxis, whether we like it or not. I'll still be driving my 1992 Geo Prizm, because that's what I can afford.
@@transportevolved The meme lord techno king is a fascist narcissist king baby, but on the other hand, TE would not exist if his company hadn't forced all other carmakers to start making EVs. Before 2009, there WAS no EV industry. So, there's that.🙂
P.O.Box belowe ? Can't seem to find the downe belowe. Pleas inclued Zip-code.
Recent data indicates that 50% of americans can't afford to pay more than $400/month or about $25k. Based on the current car prices less than 13% of car buyers can actually buy a new mid level ev
Thats a good thing,use your bicycle!
Most ppl don’t buy new cars. Over time EVs will filter down. Also new model 3s start at 38,990 -> 28,490 after tax credit and model y starts at 43,990 -> 32,890 after tax credit. Those are pretty good values at those prices, then factor in gas savings, safety, longevity, lower maintenance and now these used car buyers may be able to afford new
75% of car sales are used cars. Most of my cars have been used when I bought them including my first two EV’s. I bought both after someone else leased them from new.
There is now a tax credit for used EV’s that are under $25k when some eventually get there
@@kenmcclow8963really good point about that 4,000$ tax credit… Prices are dropping on new ones which will put downward pressure on used ones!
@michaelsmithers4900 notice what I said about the $400 monthly that's 25k which puts all Teslas out of reach unless you are willing to buy a Tesla with a salvage title and can work on it yourself to repair whatever caused it to get that salvage title then pay Tesla's fee to register the car back on the system.
In my experience the Mitsubishi i-Miev's simplicity and cheap parts make it by far the cheapest car to run. DIY skills are of course needed unless you know somebody who can help you.
This is true - but it depends on your market. In some parts of the world, they weren't very popular, so getting parts is harder! - Nikki
I don't think I'm seeing link to shirt in description?
EVs focus on Gimmicks and neglect basics such as opening doors in the winter or in a Emergency
0:58 *cough* Tesla Roadster
I dont understand why Renault does not import their BEV's to the US
The reason why cars aren't imported to the U.S. is a long, complicated one. But it can be explained in one word: Politics.
@@transportevolved Or lack of sales in the past...
@@dbwelder9159 how do you get sales when they made it a faff to import them???
History lesson...Renault stopped selling cars in America in the early 90s, when they were competing with the growing superior Japanese brands that had taken so much marketshare from US brands. They haven't been back since. They are letting Nissan compete here.
Niro EV but no mention of Kona Electric?
They were made in smaller volumes, right? But you’re right, it’s another good buy if you get a replaced pack.
3:15 why is it that only POC‘s have such trouble figuring out their finances?
Racism will not be tolerated here. final warning.
In real estate it’s location location location . In EVs it’s Tesla Tesla Tesla
I do not want a used EV. Nobody should want a used EV. All it takes is one nicked coolant line, one chip in the battery frame, one tiny little crack in the casing, and the car becomes worthless--and dangerous. Nuh uh, no way, not around my kid.
Clearly you’ve been watching the wrong news.
Why would you make an ad hominem attack instead of addressing my response to your content? That was very rude.
Used cars are notorious for having invisible issues that you don't learn about until months after the sale. With an EV, thise risks are greater due to battery fires and leaking materials. Fact. Unless tou are going to take that sucker to a dealer and pay to have em do a full safety check, then the risk is always there.
Plus, parts just age out on cars. Faster in used vehicles because the wear and tear is already built in. Fact.
Plus, you really don't know how the person drove it. If it was someone who continually drove hard miles, adding extra wese to moving parts in a shorter time, or if the vehilce was driven in an area that has poor road conditions and nasty weather that also may have weakened the vehicle--just not visibly.
I can't believe this channel still exists almost nobody watching anymore
Would you rather we didn't?
This is one of the very best channels for EV information; it covers topics I don't see covered elsewhere.
150,000 subscribers are nobody?
If your strapped for cash, don't buy an Ev new or used. Buy a cheap hybrid Toyota and wait.
Used hybrid toyotas are expensive, more expensive than new ice's of the same class
Not correct. Used hybrids can be more expensive to service!
@@linusa2996a Corolla hybrid is cheaper than most ice, and it's amazing efficiency and very low maintenance cost more than make up for the small additional cost for the hybrid MSRP 24,000
@@transportevolved Toyotas are extremely reliable, unlike most EV manufacturers which have a below average quilty level. Its one of those hidden EV cost along with a massively higher insurance bill.
@@tnickknightNew transmission, new water pump, new gas tank emissions valve, and stolen Catalytic convertor on my Prius. All avoided on an EV.